City comparison
Raleigh is safer than New York. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
New York and Raleigh are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,821 in New York and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $85,395. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. New York makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
New York and Raleigh are 424 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $249 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $4,912 (6%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 142 in Raleigh, down 27 points (16%).
The move
Raleigh and New York are 424 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,821 a month in New York, up $249 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $80,483 in New York, down $4,912 (6%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 169 in New York, up 27 points (19%).
New York, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New York and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 14% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,821 in New York, so Raleigh is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,988, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in New York.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Raleigh's median income is 6% higher than New York
New York
$80,483
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $80,483 in New York, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Raleigh (about $4,912 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 16% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in Raleigh. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Raleigh is the easier city. New York can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Raleigh
Winner67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Raleigh averages about 67°F (76°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh scores 25% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose New York if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New York
On these five categories Raleigh takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose New York because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose New York only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 6% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 67°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than New York (142 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Raleigh undercuts New York by $249/month ($1,572 vs $1,821). I would not pick New York on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety scores read 44/100 in New York and 49/100 in Raleigh.
Between New York and Raleigh, Raleigh is ahead on housing cost — $1,572/month rent against $1,821. Lean New York instead when your $80,483 income offer in New York outweighs saving $249/month in Raleigh.
Weather averages land near 58°F in New York and 67°F in Raleigh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Raleigh, plus other cities in NY and NC.
